Disaster Response

We provide immediate and long-term relief to disaster victims in the United States and around the world. We mobilize teams of skilled volunteers, send medical supplies, and provide direct funding to partner organizations on the ground in order to meet the proximate and long-term needs of victims of disaster.

Since 1988, we have deployed 433 disaster relief teams, involving 2,643 volunteers, and sent more than $113 million in emergency supplies to aid victims of disaster worldwide.

We have been actively involved in helping families in need in 69 international disasters since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, including providing critical assistance in the 1988 Armenia earthquake, the war in Yugoslavia, the Rwandan refugee crisis, the 2004 tsunami that struck Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia and India, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the Nepal earthquake in 2015, and most recently, Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. Closer to home, we have provided critical assistance in 28 U.S. disasters, including helping victims of the Northridge (Los Angeles) earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, and most recently, the 2016 flooding in Louisiana, the 2017 hurricanes in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, and the 2018 hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina.

Hurricane Michael

Hurricane Michael, one of the largest storms to ever hit the United States, caused catastrophic damage in the Florida Panhandle and surrounding areas. With your help, we can provide emergency aid to victims right now, and relief to help them rebuild in the months ahead.

The Rohingya, an ethnic group of one million from Myanmar, are considered the world's most persecuted minority. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees now reside in Bangladesh after fleeing sustained violence and ethnic cleansing by the Myanmar government. These refugees now live in makeshift camps along the border. After suffering unspeakable atrocities in their own country, children and families now face another threat - the monsoon season.

You can help the people of Guatemala suffering from this disaster! Your donations will provide immediate, emergency assistance. We are procuring disaster health kits in Guatemala for survivors living in makeshift evacuation centers.

Hurricane Harvey caused catastrophic flooding and damage throughout southern Texas and Louisiana. We povided immediate, emergency aid and are currently providing long-term assistance to help devastated families rebuild and restore their homes and their lives.

Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico in late 2017. IRT responded immedetialy and continues to make local purchases of non-perishable food items each month to help sustain poor families in rural communities severely impacted by the disaster.

More than 20 million people in East Africa are facing a hunger crisis. The countries of South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia are currently pushed to the brink of famine – leaving families with no place to turn. Drought and violent conflict have contributed to the severe food shortages and have left millions living in desperate conditions. Hunger is causing many to flee to neighboring countries and malnutrition levels are on the rise - 850,000 children under five will be classified as malnourished in 2017 (UNICEF).

On May 20, 2013, a powerful tornado swept through the city of Moore, Oklahoma, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Homes and buildings were destroyed, in one of the worst tornadoes in the city...